Time for a simulation exercise in the art of dialogue between the Islamists and the secularists in the new Egypt. The January 25, 2011 Revolution is broken. Its only hope for repair, which is the only road to a successful transition to democracy, is through reaching an important understanding. That is an understanding of what the word "dialogue" means.
So here we go with an imaginary setting. We prepare a conference room with a long table and several comfortable chairs lined up on the two sides of that table. Please do not forget to place the same number of seats for each side. We think that 12 seats for the Islamists and the same number of seats for the secularists would suffice. Oh!! Don't forget to place bottled water and flowers and pads and pens for the participants. No recording please. Only one flag, the flag of Egypt, shall be placed behind the moderator of this imaginary dialogue.
The participants enter the conference room. Instinctively the Islamists, in long robes and overgrown beards, seat themselves on the right; the secularists, equally divided in number between men and women in various attires, are now seated to the left. Whispers amongst each group abound until the moderator gavels the conference to order, then begins:
Moderator: "In the Name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate!! Brothers and sisters: we are here today to help the new Egypt move forward. I wish to thank the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis for calling for this dialogue with their opponents, whom I also thank for agreeing to attend. I now call on the Islamists to briefly state their case."
Islamist: "Our country, Egypt, is beloved by all of us. We won the parliamentary elections and also the presidential elections. The goal of the Egyptian Revolution is to attain democracy and development. We did not stage a coup. We now govern Egypt under a new Constitution approved by a majority. Our brothers and sisters across the table from us do not like the results of the ballot box. They are trying to prevent Egypt from going forward."
Secularist: "The Islamists are trying to steal our Revolution. They were not at the frontlines in Tahrir Square on January 25, 2011. They only came in from the cold when they found us, both Muslims and Copts, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, winning..."
Another Islamist (interrupting): "This is nonsense!! These are blatant lies. They..."
Moderator: "You are interrupting her. Let her make her case. Let her..."
A third Islamist: "They have no case, we are the majority which..."
Moderator: "Excuse me. You want a dialogue? Yet you are turning it into a monologue. You either stop or I shall adjourn this meeting." (Turning to the secularist speaker, a non-veiled young woman in a pant suit) "Please continue..."
Secularist: "What has taken place right now makes our case. The Islamists say they want a dialogue. But in essence, they lack the understanding of how to deal with those like us who oppose an Islamist regime. Egypt is too cosmopolitan and too diverse to be governed by the rule of numbers."
Moderator: "What do you mean? But democracy is primarily the rule by the majority!!"
Another Secularist: "We are not sure that the results of the elections, whether parliamentary or presidential, have reflected the popular will."
A fourth Islamist: "There they go again!! The secularists, who do not even speak with one voice, want Egypt to scrap the results of all elections and referenda, including those approving our New Constitution. They are demonizing us for having won. They are resorting to civil disobedience, strikes and work stoppages in order to prevent President Morsi and Prime Minister Qandeel from getting Egypt back on track."
A third Secularist: "As a Copt, I feel threatened by the Salafis who look upon the great Coptic Church as a strange object in Egyptian society. While Islam calls for tolerance and the acceptance of the other, the Islamists go on describing those who do not see things their way as being against Islam."
Moderator: (Seeing a Salafi focused on shaping pieces of paper into little paper boats) "Sir!! Aren't you interested in what the opposition is saying? Why did you join us today? Please show some respect for your opponents." [The Salafis protest: "This is democracy!"]
Moderator again to the Salafi: "This is a disgusting abuse of your newly-found freedom." [The Salafi ignores the Moderator] {This has actually happened and was on the air.}
A fifth Islamist: "We know that the street is with us. And we know that there is no way that the results of the ballot box are going to be nullified by the judiciary. That judiciary has come about through dictatorial manipulations by Mubarak and his National Democratic Party (DNC). The secularists are now joining hands with the DNC in their common cause of scuttling our newly-found democracy."
A fourth Secularist: "What he has just said proves our point. We demonstrate peacefully, and the Salafis besiege the Information Production City to prevent the new Egypt from free expression. They use the Police and the security forces to club us into submission. We are not against Islam, but we are against the Islamization of governance in Egypt. We..."
Moderator (pointing to his watch): I am sorry that the time for this conversation is up. Neither side has reconciled with the other. Frankly, I am startled by the chasm dividing Egypt into two currents: Islamism and secularism. For the sake of Egypt, let us try to meet again. Otherwise, all shall be lost. This meeting stands adjourned."
[Blogger's Note: Some of the material in this blog has been inspired by a brilliant article dated December 22, 2012 by Essam Abdel-Aziz, Editor-in-Chief of ROSAELYOUSSEF, an Egyptian political magazine established in 1935 by Mrs. Fatima El-Youssef. The interpretation of that material and the flow of this imaginary dialogue is the sole responsibility of this blogger].
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